Story By: Sergiu Nazaru, Sub Editor:  Joseph Golder,  Agency: Newsflash

One of the world’s greatest gymnasts who has won 31 medals at the Olympics, World Championships and European Championships has experienced a new career-high after he competed in the same event with his 14-year-old son.

Romanian star gymnast Marian Dragulescu, 40, competed with his son Richard Dragulescu, 14, at the National Gymnastics Championships organized in Ploiesti, a city in central Romania’s Prahova county.

Both father and son were contestants each in their own age category and the dad admitted that his son, nicknamed Richie, had been practising gymnastics since he was 4 years old, and is licensed at CSS Resita.

He also said that as well as being talented in gymnastics, he also does well in school academically after joining the Sports High School in Resita.

His father is undeniably proud of his son saying: “He has higher grades than I did at school. He’s a good kid.”

He also admitted that he did not expect to continue being competitive for so long saying: “I never thought I would do so much gymnastics that I would compete in the same competition with Richie, my son. I’m glad, it’s something new and I hope this motivates him and he will follow my footsteps.”

Richard won the bronze medal on the floor competition in the Junior 2 category, a competition in which his father is a four-time world champion.

He added: “I want to take the gold medal at the Olympics.”

Marian Dragulescu already has 3 medals at the Olympic Games and will be competing this year again at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

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